Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Hilton Honors Aspire: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1066", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Hilton Travelers", "headerHint": "Exceptional Hilton Benefits"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

This section breaks down the key reasons we're fans of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card.

‍

• Cardholders receive automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, unlocking premium perks like room upgrades and executive lounge access.
• The card offers hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits for flights and Hilton resort stays, which help offset its annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• The annual free night award certificate can be redeemed at luxury properties, potentially covering the card's entire annual cost on its own (publisher-formulated estimate).

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

‍

Pros

‍

• Includes valuable travel perks like complimentary airport security screening credits and elite status with National Car Rental.
• Provides cell phone protection when you pay your wireless bill with the card, plus access to exclusive Amex Offers.
• Comes with a strong Welcome Offer and the ability to earn additional free nights with high annual spending.

‍

Cons

‍

• The card’s high annual fee may be difficult to justify for those who do not travel frequently enough to maximize its benefits.
• Points are restricted to the Hilton Honors ecosystem, offering less flexibility than transferable rewards from other programs.
• Many of the statement credits are complex, limited to specific types of properties, or must be used within certain timeframes to avoid forfeiture.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or Hilton Honors Aspire, comes down to your primary travel loyalty. Each card is designed to reward a specific type of traveler, offering distinct benefits tailored to either an airline or a hotel chain.

‍

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: This mid-tier airline card is best for semi-frequent Southwest flyers who want valuable travel perks without the price tag of a premium card.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best for frequent travelers loyal to the Hilton brand, this card offers exceptional benefits and automatic top-tier status.

‍

Redemption

‍

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Points are redeemed through the Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights on Southwest Airlines. You can also use points for other travel-related purchases like international flights with other carriers, hotels, and car rentals.

‍

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: As a hotel co-branded card, points are redeemed through the Hilton Honors program, which are most valuable when used for free nights at Hilton properties worldwide. Points can also be used for on-property rewards, exclusive experiences, or transferred to airline partners.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• Lounge Access: The Hilton Aspire card opens the door to over 1,300 airport lounges globally with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. The Southwest Premier card, while not offering lounge access, provides two EarlyBird Check-Ins® each year, helping you get a better boarding position.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards cater to globetrotters by waiving foreign transaction fees on all purchases made abroad.
• Annual Perks: With the Hilton Aspire card, cardholders receive substantial value from an annual airline fee credit and a Hilton resort credit. The Southwest Premier card rewards loyalty with anniversary bonus points each year, and all spending helps you earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass®.
• Booking & Redemption: Points from the Hilton Aspire card are redeemed through the Hilton Honors portal, best used for hotel stays but also transferable to airline partners. Conversely, the Southwest Premier card’s points are used in the Rapid Rewards portal, primarily for Southwest flights, with options to book other travel like international flights on other carriers, hotels, and car rentals.

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

To make an informed decision, a tool like Kudos can be invaluable, allowing you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and see side-by-side quotes from top providers.

‍

• Test drive cards: The platform’s standout feature is the ability to “Test Drive” a card using your real spending data. It calculates your potential earnings, including a category-by-category breakdown, to show you the true net value before you apply.
• Detailed approval odds: Get a comprehensive analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report, taking the guesswork out of applying.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Personalized recommendations: Kudos analyzes your spending history to match you with cards that will earn you the most rewards.
• Extra rewards: Unlock additional rewards through Kudos Boost when shopping at participating stores and get a $100 Kickstart+ for adding certain approved cards to your wallet.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

‍

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is designed for semi-frequent to frequent Southwest flyers who want a solid balance of travel perks without committing to a top-tier annual fee. It's a great fit for travelers looking to maximize their point-earning on Southwest flights and use day-of-travel benefits like priority boarding. As a full card review explains, it's also a strategic choice for those pursuing the Southwest Companion Pass or A-List elite status.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

‍

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card is designed for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Hilton brand and can maximize the card’s premium benefits. An ideal cardholder, as outlined in this Hilton Aspire Card review, stays at Hilton properties at least one to two times annually and will take full advantage of perks like statement credits and automatic Diamond elite status. Therefore, the card is less suited for occasional travelers or individuals who prefer the flexibility of transferable points over hotel-specific benefits. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card vs. Hilton Honors American Express® Aspire Card comparison can be tricky, and you might find that neither card is the right choice. If that's the case, let's look at a few other options that could be a better fit.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["118", "510"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Generous Travel Rewards", "$300 Annual Travel Credit"]} ]]

‍

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Check your credit score: Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Know the issuer's rules: Be aware of application restrictions like Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's once-per-lifetime welcome offer policy.
• Have a strategy for the benefits: Understand how you'll use the card's perks, from statement credits to elite status, to justify its place in your wallet.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Prioritize based on issuer rules - Factor in policies like Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's welcome offer limits to determine your application order.
• Time your application with spending - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
• Space out your applications - Avoid applying for multiple cards in a short period to protect your credit score from too many hard inquiries.

Our Methodology

‍

We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

‍

Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

‍

Can I transfer points between Southwest Rapid Rewards and Hilton Honors?

‍

No, you cannot directly transfer points between the Southwest Rapid Rewards and Hilton Honors loyalty programs. They are separate programs, each with its own distinct partners and transfer rules.

‍

Which card offers better airport lounge access?

‍

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, giving you access to a global network of airport lounges; terms apply. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does not offer lounge access as a benefit.

‍

Do the rewards earned from these cards expire?

‍

Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as your account remains open. Hilton Honors points, however, will expire after 24 months of inactivity, though any earning or redemption activity resets the clock.

‍